Hollow-head type log peeler having concentrically arranged and individually rotatable helical blades



Jan. 3. 1956 K. w. BROWN 2,729,251

HOLLOW-HEAD TYPE LOG PEELER HAVING CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED AND INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE HELICAL BLADES 7 Filed Sept. 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

IIHHHIM Kenneth W. Brown INVENTOR.

WW Em Jan. 3. 1956 K. w. BROWN 2,729,251

HOLLOW-HEAD TYPE [.06 PEEL-ER HAVING CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED AND INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE HELICAL BLADES Filed Sept. 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ANGED Jan. 3, 1956 K. w. BROWN HOLLOW-HEAD TYPE LOG PEELER HAVING CONCENTRICALLY ARR AND INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE HELICAL BLADES Filed Sept. 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l iii.

Kenneth W. Brown 1N1 'l'jN TOR.

BY QM "m.

Jan. 3. 1956 K. w. BROWN 2,729,251

HOLLOW-HEAD TYPE LOG,PEELER HAVING CONCENTRICALLY ARRANGED AND INDIVIDUALLY ROTATABLE HELICAL BLADES Filed Sept. 20, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Kenneth W Bro wn IN V EN TOR.

BY W

United States Patent HOLLOW-HEAD TYPE LOG PEELER HAVING (IGN- CENTRICALLY ARRANGED AND INDKVIDU- ALLY ROTATABLE HELICAL BLADES Kenneth W. Brown, Indianapolis, Ind. Application September 20, 1954, Serial No. 457,043

10 Claims. (Cl. 144208) This invention relates generally to a log-peeling machine and has for its primary object the provision of an improvement in log-peeling machines wherein the peel ing operation is materially expedited and remains under control of the operator at all times.

Another object of this invention is to provide a logpeeling mechanism including an outer casing having a plurality of peeling members mounted exteriorly thereof and projecting inwardly of the casing through openings therein, the peeling members including centrally disposed spindles having peeling-blade elements helically wound thereon, the speed of rotation of the spindle and the pitch of the blade being so related as to simultaneously cause longitudinal movement of a log engaged thereby and a peeling action on the bark of the log.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism in conformity with the foregoing object wherein all of the spindlesare normally urged by spring members inwardly of the casing and wherein one of the members is provided with manually controlled mechanism for independent movement inwardly and outwardly of the casing.

These, together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the log-peeling assembly;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in Figure 1, omitting a lowermost pair of peeling members;

Figure 3 is an end view of the assembly shown in Figure l;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section taken through the peeling assembly;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the plane of section line 5-5 in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 6-6 in Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 indicates generally the casing forming the main body portion of the peeling machine and which will be seen to include a tapered discharge end portion 12 and intermediate portions 14 having a series of circumferentially spaced openings 16 therein, a tapered feeding portion 18, a cylindrical inlet portion 20, and a belled mouth 22. The entire unit may be conveniently mounted on a frame assembly indicated generally by the reference character 24 which is provided with a plurality of wheels 26 and 28 and which also may be provided with a draft tongue member 30 for attachment to a pulling vehicle. A series of uprights or braces 32 are secured to the frame 24 and support the casing at their upper ends.

Mounted at circumferentially spaced points on the casing section 18 are a plurality of bracket members 34 Which are disposed in pairs and which carry pivot pin members 36 therebetween. Bearing sleeves 38 are provided with boss portions 40 journaled on the pins 36 and disposed between adjacent pairs of the brackets 34 in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 5. Each of the sleeves 38 rotatably receives a spindle member 42 to which a thrust collar 44 is rigidly afiixed, as by a setscrew 46, to bear against one end of the sleeve 38 and fix the spindles against longitudinal movement with respect thereto. The opposite end of the sleeve 38 is provided with a transversely extending angle bracket member 48 which is provided with one leg 50 disposed generally in parallelism with the spindle 42 and which is provided with a pair of spaced apertures through which bolt members 52 and 54 project. concentrically disposed on each of the bolt members is a pair of springs 56 and 58 hearing on opposite sides of the leg 50, such as to normally urge the spindles inwardly of the casing substantially to the position shown in Figure 3. The upper end of the bolts 50 and 52 are threaded and respectively receive nut members 60 and 62 and associated thrust washers 64 and 66, whereas the lower ends of the bolts are suitably secured to respective collar members 68 and 70 rigidly afiixed as by setscrews 72 and 74 to a pivot shaft 76 carried by bearing bracket members 78.

The casing is provided with a pair of engine stand platforms 80 and 82 upon which the internal combustion engine assemblies 84 and 86 are mounted. The crankshaft 88 of the engine 84 has a pulley member 90 afiixed thereto in engagement with an endless belt 92.

Mounted on a bracket 94 secured to the casing is an idler pulley member 96 over which the belt 92 also passes and bracket members 98 support a shaft member 100 which has stepped pulley members 102 and 104 as well as a rubber tire and Wheel assembly 106 mounted thereon in the manner shown most clearly in Figure 4. The belt 92 passes about the rubber tire 106 and about a further rubber tire and wheel assembly 108 mounted on bracket members 110 substantially directly below the engine assembly 84. Thus, as the crankshaft 88 of the engine assembly 84 rotates, rotation of the tire members 106 and 108 will'be effected.

A plurality of peeling members, indicated generally by the reference characters 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120, formed in part by the previously mentioned spindles 42, have free end portions which project within the interior of the casing through the openings 16 therein. For the purpose of this description, the peeling members 112 and 114 will be designated as the first pair of peelers, whereas the member 116 will be designated the intermediate peeler, the member 118 the auxiliary peeler, and the member 120 the high-speed peeler. The spindle of the first pair of peeling members 112 and 114 are connected through the medium of extensible shaft assemblies 122 to stub shafts 124 and 126 which are rigid with tire assemblies 128 and 130 respectively having belt members 132 and 134 trained thereabout and about one of the pair of stepped pulleys 102 and 104, as shown, the stub shafts being suitably supported as by respective bracket leg members 136 and 138. It will thus be apparent that the two peeling members 112 and 114 are driven at diiferent rotational speeds. The previously mentioned tire assembly 108 is mounted on a stub shaft member 140 which is connected through the medium of an extensible shaft assembly 142 to the spindle forming a portion of the peeling member 116 and it is to be understood that insofar as the rotational speeds of the first pair of peeling members 112 and 114 and the intermediate peeling member 116 are concerned, the intermediate peeler is driven at a substantially greater rate of 3 ipeed than either one of the first pair of peeling memers.

The engine assembly 86 includes a crankshaft 144 having a pulley member '146'rigi'dly secured thereto, this pulley being'a mult'iple sheave assembly-for receiving a plurality of driving belts 148 trained about'a multiplesheave pulley 150 and a pluralityof'driving belts 152 trained thereabout' and about a pulley member 154. The pulley 150 is rigidly secured to a"shaft'156supported by bearing bracket members 158, this 'shaftbeing connected through an extensible shaft assembly lfil to the spindle forming a part 'of the auxiliary peeling member 118. On the other hand, the multiple sheavepulley 154 is rigidly affixed to a stub shaft 162 suppoi'ted'b y abr'acket-163 havinga single pulley member 16'4at its oppositeend drivingly connected-as by a belt1 6'6 to 'a further-pulley member 168 on an extensible shaft assembly 170 for'c'onnection to the high-speed peeler mechanismIZO. Due to the relative sizes of the pulleys 1 54 'an'd 150, thepeeli'ng member 120 will be driven at a greater rate of speed than the auxiliary peelingmember 118,'it'being understood that both of these peeling assemblies are adaptedto be normally driven at a much greater rate of speed than any of the other peeling members.

For controlling the drive from the engine assembly 84, a take-up pulley control arm 172 is provided, this con.- trol arm being connected at one end toa'shaft 174 rotatably carried as by brackets 176 on the casing and the opposite end of the shaft 174 carries an offset arm 1'78 to which a shaft member 180 is secured for journaling a take-up pulley 182 such that by manipulation of the lever 172 slack may be'taken up in thebelt'member 92. It is to be understood that the engine assembly'86 is provided with any suitable control means in the form of clutch and throttle control for manually controlling this engine.

ltis also to be understood that thee'n'gine assembly '84 is normally adaptedto be governbr'c'ontrolled such that'the different speeds of the vario'u's pe'eling members 112, 114, 'and 116 remain substantially constant. 7

A control lever 184 is provided'for the purpose of controlling movement of the high spee'd peeling member 120 and in this respect it is to be noted thatthe control lever is pivotally mounted about a mid-portionthereof to the casing as by a pin 186 and the lowerend'thereof is connected by a suitable clevis-jointto a rod 'member188 which extends therefrom and is secured,"by welding, for example, to a rectangular open shockabsorbing frame 190 which receives longitudinally 'thereth'r'oiigh a shaft member 192 including an end stop member-"199, and'concentrically disposed thereon 'betweei1"opposite end portions 194'and 1960f the frame isacoil spring member 200 such as to provide a lost motionconnection between the shafts 183 and "192. The opposife'end of the shaft 192 is connectedas by a clevis'joint 204'to an arm 206 rigid with the angle frame member 48 of'the high-speed peeling member. Thus, as the'lever 184 i's'rnani'pulated, the free end of the high-speed'peeling member 120 is swung inwardly or outwardly of the casing as desired.

Insofar as the construction of the peeling members themselves are concerned, it is to be noted that they consist of helically wound pressure blade members 208 rigidly disposed on the spindles 42 infthe manner shown. The outer contour of these pressureblade'sis inthe form of an elliptical taper,jthe purpose of which will be presently apparent. It is desired that the various peeling assemblies 112, 114, 1 16 and 118 are provided with helices of different pitches, the purpose of this construction also being presently apparent. On the other hand, the high speed peeling assembly 120 is comprised of three separate pressure blade members 21ll, 212 and 214 on the spindle me mber 42, the high speed'peeli ng member havin'gt he longest or greatestpitch in itsh ices. M

'At'th'e input end of the machine,a pair of 'shaft members 216 and 218 are journaled, each of whichc'arries a plurality of toothed guide roller members 220 and 222, respectively upon which a log which is tilted into place within the machine and which is adapted to be guidably supported thereby upon movement into the machine. Disposed on opposite sides of said rollers are suitably secured semi-cylindrical guides 219 which aid in guiding logs into said machine. The discharge end of the machine is provided with an apron assembly 224 for guiding a log in the discharge end of the machine.

in operation, both engine assemblies 84 and 86 are started, the engine 84 being governor-controlled to operate at a predetermined speed, whereas the engine 86 may be operated at any desired speed under the control of the operator. A log is fed into the input end of the machine and is fed thereunto until it rests upon the first pair of peeling members 112 and 114, whereafter the rotational motion of these peeling members taken in conjunction with the helical formation of their pressure blades will simultaneously rotate and feed the log longitudinally Within the casing toward the discharge end thereof. After the log advances a suflicient amount under the action of the peelers'112 and 114, it is engaged by both the intermediate peelingmember 116 and the high speed peeler 120. The auxiliarypeeler 118 will not be contacted unless the log is of unusually large diameter.

Due to the elliptical configuration of the various peeling members, only a very small portion of the periphery of the blade members 288 will 'cont'act'the surface of the log to be peeled,'an'd it will be manifest that the peeling action is obtained by the variation in rotational drive to the various peeling members as well as the differential in pitches thereof which effectsa sort of scrubbing action upon the bark of the log, which, taken in conjunction with the crushing actionimparted thereto by the pressure of the peeling members on the'log, will effectively shred the bark from the log and willleave it in a clean condition without marring 'the'outer wood portion thereof.

Essentially, the peeling members 112, 114, and 116 will exert by far the greater portion of the crushing action of the log bark, whereas the high speed roller 120, rotating at a substantially greater speed than any of the other rollers and having'a far greater helicalpitch, will effect most of the shredding action.

Manipulation of the previously described control levcr 184 will control the speed "of the movement of the log through the peeling'ma'chine. The log rests-primarily on the first pair of peeling members 112 and 114 which are rotating at a relatively slow speed and which have small helical pitches, and by exerting heavy pressure of the high speed peeling member 128 against the log through the action of the lever 184, the log will be caused to rotate at a much greater speed than it would normally attain by the action of the peeling members 112 and 114 only, and therefore the effect will be that the log will tend to move across the peeling members 112 and 114 due to the speed differentia'lof 'saidpeeling members.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily'understood and further explanation is believed to be'unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art,it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly'all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is asfollows:

1. A log-peeling assembly comprising an elongated casing having a plurality'of 'circ'umferentially spaced openings in an intermediate portion thereof, a first'pair of peeling members mounted exteriorly of said casing and projecting into the same through 'a pair of said openings, said members beingdisposed'on the lowerside'of said casingan intermediatepeelingmember mounted on said casing and projecting through an opening in one side thereof, means for simultaneously rotating all of said peeling members, a high-speed peeling member mounted on said casing and projecting through the side thereof opposite said intermediate member, and means for rotating said high-speed member independently of the other members.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said members includes a centrally disposed, elongated spindle and a pressure blade helically wound thereon, the blades of said first pair, said intermediate and said high-speed members being formed of helices with difierent pitches.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first pair and said intermediate members comprise a centrally dis posed, elongated spindle and a single pressure blade helically wound thereon, said high-speed member having an elongated spindle and a plurality of separate pressure blades helically wound thereon, the pitch of the blades of said high-speed member being greater than the pitch of any of the other members.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said members includes a spindle independently mounted on said casing, each of said spindles being pivotally secured adjacent one end thereof to the casing for movement about a transverse axis extending parallel to a tangent to the casing, and means for normally urging said spindles toward the center of said casing.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said members includes a spindle independently mounted on said casing, each of said spindles being pivotally secured adjacent one end thereof to the casing for movement about a transverse axis extending parallel to a tangent to the casing, and means for normally urging said spindles toward the center of said casing, said high-speed member including manually controlled mechanism for movement of its spindle radially of the casing.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein each of said members includes a centrally disposed, elongated spindle and a pressure blade helically wound thereon, the blades of said first pair, said intermediate and said high-speed members being formed of helices with difierent pitches, said spindles being pivotally mounted adjacent an end thereof to said casing, means normally urging said spindles toward the center of said casing, and manually controlled mechanism for moving said high-speed member independently into and out of the casing.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said first pair and said intermediate members comprise a centrally disposed, elongated spindle and a single pressure blade helically wound thereon, said high-speed member having an elongated spindle and a plurality of separate pressure blades helically wound thereon, the pitch of the blades of said high-speed member being greater than the pitch of any of the other members, said spindles being pivotally mounted adjacent an end thereof to said casing, means normally urging said spindles toward the center of said casing, and manually controlled mechanism for moving said high-speed member independently into and out of the casing.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein an auxiliary peeling member is mounted on the top of said casing.

9. A log-peeling machine comprising a casing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein, a plurality of peeling members mounted on the exterior of said casing and including portions projecting thereinto through said openings, means for rotating said members, means resiliently urging said members inwardly of the casing, and means for independently controlling the inward movement of one of said members.

10. A log-peeling machine comprising a casing having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein, a plurality of peeling members mounted on the exterior of said casing and including portions projecting thereinto through said openings, means for rotating said members, means resiliently urging said members inwardly of the casing, each of said members including an elongated spindle pivotally mounted adjacent one end to said casing and a pressure blade helically wound on each spindle, means for resiliently urging the free end of each spindle inwardly of said casing, and means for rotating said spindles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

